Europe's Self Storage Industry Expands

Around the world today, the self storage industry plays an important role in providing a safe place for safekeeping of valuable items. Families and businesses are taking advantage of this facility and their number is growing.

The U.S. remains to be a leader in self storage. An estimated 50,000 facilities are in place there as of the moment while some 10,000 are located in other countries.

In Europe, data gathered in 2007 showed the continent had 1,270. A big chunk of self storage facilities in Europe are located in the U.K. considered to be a mature market when it comes to self storage. The growth rate there is estimated at 10 to 15 percent every year and the industry is generating a revenue of 360 million sterling pounds.

Currently, some 250 companies are operating facilities in the country. The biggest storage chains in the United Kingdom are Safestore and Big Yellow while two thirds of customers are private individuals including business people and those who are in the process of moving.

Shurgard Europe is also in the list of major players with 149 facilities in seven European countries. These are in the U.K., Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and The Netherlands.

Other countries where self storage is thriving are Spain and Germany. The facilities are concentrated in the capital cities such as Paris and Madrid. As of 2005, France had 112 storage facilities, Spain had 57 as of 2002 and Germany had 33 as of 2007.

The storage industry in Europe is worth $550 million as of 2010. Many companies are also selling insurance, packing materials and other accessories to customers as a way to increase their sales.

Another country in the continent that has showed recent development is Hungary in the eastern part. Euro Mini Storage is planning more expansion projects in other locations including Bucharest. This provider is currently the largest in Romania and Hungary. It also recently spent 150,000 Euros to expand existing facilities.

Experts have observed that the economy in Eastern Europe might be improving the reason for this expansion project. In the early years of the self storage facilities in Romania and Hungary, occupancy was not high compared to the situation in the U.S.

However, the companies involved including Euro Mini Storage have been doing their marketing well and have even gone online uploading videos and sharing them to raise awareness about the business. In fact, Euro Mini Storage in Hungary had already won the 2009 CIJ Best Warehouse/Logistics Award. It has ventured as well in environment friendly campaigns and charitable acts.

The Federation of European Self Storage Associations (FEDESSA) covers the national associations in 13 European countries. It helps each member country set up its own organization of operators and provides them with a common voice to important legislative bodies to include the European Commission, European Parliament and Council.

The FEDESSA is looking forward to the growth of Europe's self storage industry. Together with its member associations, the umbrella organization is positive that more operators will venture into this field.

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Top 4 - List Of Things To Check If The Storage Cost Is Right

There are so many self storage companies nowadays and many a time customers are left to wonder why storage rates differ among each company. Many customers think that all self storage is the same, there are no special services provided and it's simply "store and leave". Many considerations run through the mind of potential customers. Considerations are those such as location, security, convenience, reputation of the company and cost. However, cost is often the last to be taken into consideration.

Good Location

One of the most important things to check is the location of the storage company. Is the location convenient? Are there ample parking spaces and is it near any public transport facilities? Is it located centrally or is it located at the end of the island? Often, the more central the location is, the higher the rental charges.

Convenient

How easy is it to self store with the company? Are you able to access your item anytime you want at anytime of the day? Are there workers around to assist you when you need them? Is there a minimum duration you need to store with them or can you stop storing with them whenever you want? Does the company provide after business hour support?

Customer relation service

Does the company provide a good customer relation service? When you have any enquiries, does the staff serve you genuinely and know their product well or are they just trying to brush you off? Does the company provide after sales follow up service or they simply ignore you after the contract is signed?

Security

Security around the self storage facility as well as inside it is important. The things you wish to store may be an expensive one and may also be a priceless one in terms of sentimental value. You want to know that your item is there when you open it. Does the storage facility have a security fence surrounding it? Do they have security cameras installed and what are the locks used? How do you access your items? Do they have a PIN system?

Many factors contribute to the price of the self storage facility. A cheap one may provide you with the most basic amenities and are located in an isolated part of the city. It may also not provide good security features. On the other hand, an expensive one may be centrally located in town, with good customer service and good security features. Look for a place with the best overall value for money.

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How Much Can You Make With Mini Storage Auctions

Have you been bitten by the make money with mini storage unit auction bug? Perhaps you saw some of the reality shows or friends have been talking about all of the money you can make and you want to give it a try. If so you may be wondering just exactly what is involved and how much you can expect to make.

The process is you bid on self storage units at public auction and if you have the winning bid you offer the merchandise for sale at a profit. There is a bit of risk involved. Usually you don't get a close look at what you are bidding on so on some level it is a crap shoot and yet you can make big profits by using some sense about it.

Yes, But How Much Money Can I Make?

The amount you can make with mini storage auctions depends on a lot of factors. How much will you spend, if you expect to sell at a profit you must control your expenses and this starts at the auctions. You will have some idea of what is in the unit but you won't know exactly. If you notice major appliances or antiques then you know the unit is a good one. Still you must, through practice, know how to bid. As Kenny Rodgers sang, "You've got to know when to hold up, know when to fold up, know when to walk away, and know when to run." With time and a few auctions under your belt you will do fine. But remember, as you start, it is OK to lose them, it doesn't cost anything.

The amount you make then depends on what you bid vs what is in the unit. You will find a wide range of items in these units. If you are lucky you will find the entire contents of a home. Antiques, jewelry, household appliances, and so forth. Small items, like jewelry are usually packed away in boxes, so on your quick look into the unit be sure to take note of the labels written on the boxes for a clue about what may be there.

When you win an auction you must decide what the pieces are worth before you resell them. To maximise your profit do research before deciding. Google can be your best friend here as you go online and learn what similar items are selling for. Don't shirk this part of the task. It is where a lot of money is made and lost every day. You may find something like an old vase in a box and think it's worth maybe $5 on a good day. An online search might reveal that it is actually worth more like $500. Don't sell yourself or your merchandise short.

By carefully bidding on storage units and pricing your merchandise big profits are possible. Due diligence is the watch word and you can do very well.

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The State Of Australia's Self Storage Industry

Australia is a developed country yet the self storage sector there has yet to grow. It has existing storage facilities but the number remains way below that of the U.S.

Data in 2011 showed that rentals were slow and occupancies in some areas were even stagnant. There were areas, however, that had increase in rentals. In addition, construction of local self storage facilities was few with some of them even reducing employees.

A positive development in the country was the joint venture of National Storage and Heitman, a real estate investment management firm based in Chicago, Illinois. This project, considered the biggest investment in Australia's storage industry, led to the acquisition of some 20 storage properties and businesses with a total worth of AUD $180. Established in 2000, National Storage currently has 60 facilities.

This joint venture covers 11,000 storage units. They are situated in various locations such as in Brisbane, Hobart, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Sunshine Coast.

Many providers in Australia are covered under the Self Storage Association of Australasia (SSAA). More than 80 percent of operators are members including the major companies such as Rent a Space, Fort Knox, Kennards, Storage Kind and National Storage.

Similar to those in the U.S., self storage facilities in Australia also come in different types and sizes. There are units meant for household items, documents, vehicles, wines and there's also the business storage type. In terms of size, the smallest is the locker style unit. There are also the double garage sizes and larger ones.

Terms and policies are almost the same as well. Many operators offer flexible terms which means a customer can rent a unit for as long as he or she needs to store his personal items there. Payment option is normally on a monthly basis and the contract can be renewed upon expiration depending on the tenant.

A 2010 study on the demand for self storage in Australia and New Zealand found that there was a 17 percent increase compared to the previous years. The research that looked into the factors that led people to use self storage also showed that half of the potential customers would normally use the internet to look for an ideal facility.

In addition, nearly 40 percent of customers had used the same facility before. The rate is 20.4 percent up from the 2008 figure. Majority or 87.7 percent also expressed satisfaction over the service provided to them by their preferred facility.

Another study that focused on traffic patterns and parking requirements suggested specific rates for the different sizes of rental units. The research found that there's low traffic as there's really no peak time or day at any facility. Also, most sites were found to have no proper layout for automatic traffic counters.

Most sites were also found to be using the security gate system to control the vehicles coming in and out of the sites. The issue identified here pertains to tailgating which the researchers claimed could be solved through the use of the so-called "door data."

With these facts presented, it's noteworthy that the self storage sector in Australia is in a favorable state.

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Straightforward Garage Storage Ideas to Make You Organized

Dealing with Seasonal Gear To capitalize on the space that you have on hand in your garage, you should have a plan to rotate seasonal things. When fall arrives, it is time to put away the gardening equipment and swap it with snow shovels, sleds, and skis. There are numerous garage storage ideas to assist you in storing the out of season equipment. The rafters are a good space for storing big or awkward items. You can likewise get huge wire baskets for storing items. These baskets are screwed into the rafters in the garage. Cupboards that are not easily within reach likewise work effectively. Anything you want for the present season ought to be simply accessible so you do not have to go looking through your garage.

Creating a Workspace Area Having a workspace for the house improvement tasks that come up is critical. This area could be for completing little tasks like sawing a bit of wood or for bigger projects such as fixing a major auto problem. The size of workbench you require is vital for garage storage ideas like this because you do not want to have to redo this project. If you just do several small tasks in your garage, a small table and stool should be all that you need. If you have a interest that involves the use of the garage, it is preferable to have a larger workbench and a system to help you get your gear organized. The major use of the workspace ought to be thought out carefully before any sort of purchase is made. The system you acquire must fit the need you have instead of attempting to make a system work in a way it was not designed to. Having a section for current tasks will help you keep them organized as opposed to having them wind up in various corners of the garage.

Search Through Your Items Regularly To help ensure that your garage stays organized and so that untidiness does not develop all over again, you should go through your garage items on a regular basis. A yearly spring or autumn cleaning should be enough to help you get everything where it belongs once more and get rid of any clutter that has gathered throughout the year. There will be a few spaces that have accumulated obvious clutter but do not concentrate your labors on just those spaces. All of the garage ought to be gone through. The benefit of doing this is that you can sometimes discover objects you no longer need. This helps you reduce items so that you have more room for what you do use. You might even get inspired garage storage ideas to help you reorganize your garage in a more useful manner.

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The Idea of Storage Unit Auctions

Reality shows have become hype and one of them is about storage unit auctions, which has increased the interest of almost every television viewer in America. You might not know it, but auctioning self-storage units are not really a new thing as they have existed for quite some time but only recently has it been a way for potential profit.

Why do storage unit auctions happen?

I know that many people are wondering why big companies held auctions of their storage space. There's actually no big fuss about it because these auctions wouldn't happen anyway if the renters were only good payers. Storage management companies will only result to auctioning foreclosures in order to recoup their losses from unpaid rent.

When a storage company finally decides to hold an auction of self-storage units, a public announcement is made which is usually through local newspapers. Once the announcement is made, this will surely capture the interest of both first time and seasoned auction hunters in search for bargains.

However, some auctions don't continue when the renters come hours before the auction starts to pay their dues. When this is the case, the companies will have to cancel and the auctioneers will have to bid for the other storage units for auction.

What to expect:

Storage unit auctions are different from estate auctions because they are not very formal compared as the people are usually standing around the unit for auction and bid verbally. The person that makes the highest bid will of course win the contents of the unit. The winning bidder will then have to pay for the storage space that he has won to the unit manager.

When you win the contents of a unit for auction, the company will give you two days to get all the contents of the unit so it is best if you bring a van or truck to have a space for the items that you purchased. Usually a self-storage unit is around 5 feet by 5 feet which is 25 square feet. This small space can be packed with numerous items.

In a live auction, the unit for auction will be opened for a while and the contents will be revealed to the auction hunters. This usually lasts only for a few seconds before the bidding of the unit starts. Make sure to make the most of the time and browse through all the contents of the unit.

Be sure to look out for items that can be of potential profit like appliances, gadgets and things that can be sold easily whether at yard sales or online. And during the auction, make sure to keep your options open and not bid all your money on the first unit being auctioned. You can only do this if you're sure that the contents are valuable and you'll get your money's worth.

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The Benefits of Renting Self Storage Facilities

In this time and age, space is increasingly becoming like precious time, oil, silver and gold. The lesser the commodity, the higher the demand. Just like oil, we cannot do without space, we need space for storage amongst many other things. Here are some benefits that come with renting a self storage facility.

Storage

Self storage, as its name suggest, can provide space for storing your things. Unlike time, you can get extra space for storage. Renting a self storage space can give you the extra space you need, be it to store your inventory, documents or equipment for your business or just extra furniture from your smaller house. These self storage facility provide you a storage space that you can take anything you have stored out and put anything you may want to store in.

Creating space

Believe it or not, a self storage space does not end where your storage slot is. It goes beyond the self storage facility, because by storing your things at a self storage facility, you are creating space at your shop, office or even home. By putting things that you seldom use, but still want to keep in a self storage facility, you are clearing it and making space for other possible usage of the space. For example, if you own an eatery, and you have extra machineries that you are not using at the moment, you can store it in the self storage facility. In turn, you can turn that space that you have just freed up into more tables to accommodate more customers, exchanging that for more income in the long run.

Fixed location

You do not have to worry about your items being moved or relocated to another place without your permission or without prior notice. In contrast to traditional storage methods, this is safer and more assuring.

Spoilt for choice

You can choose from the different variety of sizes that these self storage units come in. You only need to rent as big a space as you need for your items and thus you only pay for what you use.

Easy accessibility

Self storage spaces can be found all over the country right now because of its popular demand. This makes it easy to retrieve your things if you need them, you need not travel a great deal of distance just to get your things. More than that, if you are sharing a self storage facility with a friend, either of you can gain access to that self storage facility without having to trouble your friend.

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